Five questions the UK’s autumn statement needs to answer
By Kirsten Hastings, 9 Sep 16
With a date of 23 November now set for chancellor Philip Hammond’s first autumn statement, AJ Bell senior analyst Tom Selby has outlined five questions Hammond needs to answer when he takes to the despatch box.
Before the EU referendum the government warned the valuable state pension triple-lock – which links annual increases to the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5% – would come under threat in the event of a Brexit vote.
Some have suggested a “double lock” could be introduced in its place, removing the 2.5% from the equation and thus saving the government money when earnings and prices fall below this level.
However, scrapping the triple-lock could be politically toxic given it would hit those most likely to re-elect the Conservatives at the next general election.
